Eighteen years later, it still hurts

Eight Freeport residents were among the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of 2001. Six Freeporters died in the line of duty as they responded and sprung into action to help get as many people out of the burning buildings as they could. Two Freeporters were starting their workday in Tower One.

Parents escorted their younger children to Freeport elementary schools for the first day of classes on Tuesday. Fifth- and sixth-graders at Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School, meanwhile, stood in two lines in front of the school, waiting to enter.

The Freeport Housing Authority will receive a $250,000 grant to add lighting and improve security at the Rev. John J. Madden and Mitchell Mallette senior housing developments in Freeport, on South Main Street and North Main Street, respectively, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Imagine opening a new marble notebook on the first day of school and taking out your new box of crayons. Now imagine what it might be like to show up to class empty-handed and have to ask your teacher, or a classmate, to borrow a sheet of paper and pencil.

As the summer winds down, many families are racing to make the most out of the last days of the season before children return to school, high school grads go away to college and the days begin to cool. But look no farther than your geographic backyard . . .

The black bear suddenly appeared as if it were an apparition. It was tugging on a rope that suspended our duffle bag full of food high in a tree, a good distance from our lean-to. All at once the line snapped . . .